BCCI wants more clarity on commentary issue: Report

New Delhi: PS Raman who heads the legal committee of BCCI, has been entrusted with the responisibility to look into the by-laws abd advise reforms in order to bring more clarity over certain conflict of interest issues.

According to a report in the Indian Express, this will be in addition to the conflict of interest guidelines for administrators and cricketers (past and present) that have been approved at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday.

Meanwhile, the by-laws are set for a revamp by February next year.

Reports suggest that, some members had sought clarifications over certain issues such as commentary assignments of the former players during the meeting on Monday.

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who has been appointed as technical committee chairman, also features in the IPL governing council. Ganguly who had an earlier contract as a commentatot, hasn't been donning the role since the end of 2015 ICC World Cup. But questions may rise if he gets another contract in the future.

“An administrator shall not have any commercial interest in any activities/tournaments of the BCCI including Indian Premier League,” says the BCCI rules on conflict of interest.

But the Supreme Court had given a different interpretation of the subject during its hearing of the 2013 IPL spot-fixing case. “He (Ganguly) does not have a stake in the match, who wins or loses, he doesn’t have a commercial interest in the match,” the apex court had told the BCCI counsel.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar said at the press conference in Mumbai on Monday that, as long as Ganguly was not gaining commercially from the board, he was free to work as the Cricket Association of Bengal president and also as the technical committee head.

Ganguly is free to represent the governing council as well. “He’s not doing commentary but he can pursue whatever profession he wants. The conflict would arise if he has a commercial interest in the board because we can’t stop him from pursuing his profession,” said Manohar.

As for former Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble, he has been removed as the BCCI technical committee chief, but his association with IPL giants Mumbai Indians links him to the cricket board.

IPL is an important part of the BCCI and with Kumble being a commentator for BCCI, questions could be raised about him wearing two hats.

“Apparently, this could be a case of potential conflict of interest. We need more clarity, for things could be a little confusing at times. The legal committee has been asked to deal with issues like these. They will form the guidelines and will propose necessary changes to the by-laws. We will discuss it in details and by February we aim to overhaul the by-laws,” BCCI vice-president TC Mathew told leading english newspaper, The Indian Express.

“Manohar has initiated a clean-up drive and everything will be dealt with properly,” he added.